NOW BEFORE THE DARK by Sam Hooker Official Blog Tour and Giveaway

 

 

Paperback : 456 pages
ISBN-10 : 1645480291
ISBN-13 : 978-1645480297
Publisher : Black Spot Books (December 8, 2020) 

Praise for NOW BEFORE THE DARK

"With a lyrical tone and hilarious dialogue that do double duty with its world building, the novel continues the brilliant satire seen in the series’ earlier books...whimsical adventure, and frequent, humorous plays on words, spoofs of contemporary events, and clever reversals of expected dynamics make Now Before the Dark a delight." —C. Foster, Foreword Reviews

" Fans of Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams will appreciate the farce and puns that are the hallmark of Hooker’s writing." —Dawn Kuczwara, Booklist

Time is running out for the Old Country.

How does one save a nation when the erstwhile gods are against the idea? In the finale of Terribly Serious Darkness, it's up to Sloot Peril--the world's greatest accountant and poorest everything else--to figure it out.

Unfortunately, he'll have help. A philosopher who'd sooner die (again) than do any real work, a bard who can't play his non-instrument, and a spooky wizard who's often mistaken for a vampire may not be ideal allies, but with any luck—which Sloot's never had—they'll occasionally get out of his way.

Does Sloot stand a chance against serpent cults, demons, dragons, and the most sinister financial report every written? Doubtful. If he's even going to survive the dance contest, he'll have to think of something now, before the Dark swallows everything up.

You can purchase Now Before the Dark at the following Retailers:

        

My Review

I am really enjoying this series.  To get the full effect, I started reading the first in the series so I can enjoy the third installment, Now Before the Dark.  However, because of that, I'm not quite finished with this book for my review.  But I will come back and add to it!

I am entranced by this imaginary world that is enhanced with humor and banter.  The characters are fun to try and relate to. I love a dark fantasy that tickles the brain with creativity.

More to come!

Photo Content from Sam Hooker

Sam Hooker writes darkly humorous fantasy novels about thing like tyrannical despots and the masked scoundrels who tickle them without mercy. He knows all the best swear words, though he refuses to repeat them because he doesn't want to attract goblins.

        

WEEK ONE

DECEMBER 7th MONDAY Welcome to MLM Opinon's Reviews REVIEW

DECEMBER 8th TUESDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW 

DECEMBER 9th WEDNESDAY Movies, Shows, & Books GUEST POST

DECEMBER 10th THURSDAY BookHounds YA INTERVIEW

DECEMBER 11th FRIDAY A Court of Coffee and Books EXCERPT 

DECEMBER 12th SATURDAY Casia's Corner EXCERPT

DECEMBER 13th SUNDAY Reading Adventures of a Book Dragon GUEST POST

WEEK TWO

DECEMBER 14th MONDAY The Bookwyrm's Den REVIEW

DECEMBER 15th TUESDAY Insane About Books REVIEW 

DECEMBER 16th WEDNESDAY Gwendalyn's Books REVIEW

DECEMBER 17th THURSDAY Ya It's Lit REVIEW

DECEMBER 18th FRIDAY Kelly Riser REVIEW 

DECEMBER 19th SATURDAY Crossroad Reviews SPOTLIGHT

DECEMBER 20th SUNDAY TTC Books and More EXCERPT

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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WRITE CHRISTMAS by Thommy Hutson Official Blog Tour and Giveaway

 WRITE CHRISTMAS BY THOMMY HUTSON EXCERPT

PROLOGUE

30 years ago
Fluffy snowflakes, the kind one could not pack into a snowball despite every effort, floated through the air and blanketed Winter Glen in a shimmer of white. With every passing icy fractal, the sun hid deeper into the horizon, whispering its goodnights and throwing an inspired, orange hue over everything the rays could touch. Twinkling lights on the shops, wreaths on doorways, and snowmen in yards were all its target. None of that would seem like much to the casual observer, passerby, or occasional tourist looking for a quick bite on their way to the city. Winter Glen, just another small town. A blip on a map.
          If drawn by a better-than-thorough cartographer.
          But such a mapmaker didn’t live there. They didn’t know. They couldn’t feel it.
          Those people didn’t understand the tiny town equaled more than the sum of locally owned shops, town square gazebo, distinct houses, and the Winter River Bridge. Winter Glen also meant home, a collection of people and places unified in every way. An enclave created by one of them, for all of them. While every winter preordained a lot of snow, each day’s wintry gift brought Christmas closer. Christmas—a season which meant so much to so many, but maybe none more so than Samuel Nicholson.

Copyright © 2020 by Thommy Hutson

 

Paperback : 326 pages
ISBN-10 : 1645480496
ISBN-13 : 978-1645480495
Publisher : Rosewind Books (December 1, 2020)
Language: : English

Praise for WRITE CHRISTMAS

"This heartwarming fantasy from Hutson updates a favorite Christmas trope as a Scrooge-like woman is given the magical gift of a new perspective on her life. Christmas enthusiasts will find this hits the spot." —Publishers Weekly

“... a blend of romance and fantasy in A Christmas Carol style of writing. An outstanding inspirational
read for the holidays.” —Midwest Book Review

"A story of second chances, Write Christmas will make you believe in the magic of the season again." —The Nerd Daily

Abby Nicholson used to love Christmas. Until she didn’t.

After leaving Winter Glen, the small town famous for its Christmas celebration and her family’s greeting card company, Abby is forced to return to the home she left behind when the unexpected passing of her father thrusts the business into her hands.

Turning her back on the magic of the holiday beloved by her father and the town, she decides to sell the business. Signing the paperwork with the very pen her father used to create it, she is shocked to discover her hometown has become a whole new world.

One where Christmas has vanished!

Now stuck in a place devoid of hope, joy, and the spirit of the season, Abby sees family and friends altered in the most terrible of ways.

Determined to set things right, though unsure how, Abby takes out her father’s pen and begins to draw. When she realizes her art is coming to life, she sets out to recreate the holiday and bring back the most wonderful time of the year.

But some are determined to keep an iron grip on the town and will do anything in their power to stop her.

You can purchase Write Christmas at the following Retailers:

        

Photo Content from Thommy Hutson

Thommy Hutson is an award-winning screenwriter, producer, director, and best-selling author.

A graduate of UCLA, he launched his career co-writing the story for the Warner Bros. animated hit SCOOBY-DOO IN WHERE’S MY MUMMY? He followed that with co-writing the concept and additional material for CHILL OUT, SCOOBY-DOO!

His career took a thrilling turn writing and producing several definitive genre film retrospectives for television and home entertainment: SCREAM: THE INSIDE STORY (Bio Channel), NEVER SLEEP AGAIN: THE ELM STREET LEGACY (Bio Channel), CRYSTAL LAKE MEMORIES: THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF FRIDAY THE 13th (RLJ/Image), MORE BRAINS! A RETURN TO THE LIVING DEAD (Chiller) and HIS NAME WAS JASON: 30 YEARS OF FRIDAY THE 13th (Starz/Anchor Bay).

He was also a staff writer on the Hulu daily web series “The Morning After,” a smart, witty, pop culture program aimed at getting viewers up-to-date on the latest entertainment news and celebrity interviews.

Thommy produced the critically acclaimed feature THE TROUBLE WITH THE TRUTH, an insightful relationship drama starring Lea Thompson and John Shea. He also produced DREAMWORLD, a quirky, romantic dramedy.

He co-wrote and produced ANIMAL for Chiller Films and Drew Barrymore’s Flower Films. The project debuted in iTunes’ top ten horror films (reaching #1) and became the network’s highest-rated original movie.

He produced and made his feature directorial debut with THE ID, an independent psychological drama/thriller. The film won Best Thriller at The Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival and Filmmaker Magazine stated it was “a deeply unsettling thriller that’s as moving as it is frightening … with skillful, provocative direction that has echoes of early Polanski.”

Thommy also wrote the screenplay for Syfy Channel’s supernatural horror film TRUTH OR DARE, which was a trending topic on social media the night of its premiere and continues to rank high on Netflix.

As a best-selling author Thommy crafted a limited-edition coffee table book detailing the making and legacy of horror icon Wes Craven’s 1984 classic A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. A trade version (Permuted Press/Simon & Schuster) was also released. His latest novel, the teen thriller “Jinxed,” (Vesuvian Media) is the first book of a trilogy and has been called “A must-read for classic horror fans…Inevitable and shocking. Homage and originality…Hutson could easily take on the mantle as the next Lois Duncan.” The book reached #1 in the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia and was the winner for Best Horror at the International Book Awards and Best YA Horror in the Readers’ Choice Awards.

He wrote the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original film A CHRISTMAS FOR THE BOOKS, which was the highest-rated scripted program the night it premiered, produced THE FINAL WISH (Cinedigm) written by Final Destination creator Jeffrey Reddick and starring Lin Shaye and Tony Todd, and co-scripted the teen thriller INSTAFAME (Lifetime).

Thommy recently wrote the screenplay for an audiobook holiday project, is in development on a family feature, and is hard at work on “Cursed,” the second installment of the “Jinxed” trilogy.

A member of the Producers Guild of America and Horror Writers Association, a Saturn and Home Media Magazine award-winner, and an aficionado of horror and teen movies from the 80s and 90s, Thommy continues to develop unique, compelling, and provocative projects across multiple genres for film, television, publishing, and home entertainment.

        

PART ONE

DECEMBER 14th MONDAY JeanBookNerd SPOTLIGHT

DECEMBER 15th TUESDAY Insane About Books EXCERPT

DECEMBER 16th WEDNESDAY BookHounds EXCERPT

DECEMBER 17th THURSDAY Casia's Corner REVIEW 

DECEMBER 18th FRIDAY J.R.'s Book Reviews REVIEW 

PART TWO

DECEMBER 19th SATURDAY Gwendalyn's Books REVIEW 

DECEMBER 20th SUNDAY Book Queen Reviews SPOTLIGHT

DECEMBER 21st MONDAY Ya It's Lit REVIEW

DECEMBER 22nd TUESDAY Author Kelly Risser REVIEW 

DECEMBER 23rd WEDNESDAY Movies, Shows, & Books REVIEW

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

Girls Can!: Smash Stereotypes, Defy Expectations, and Make History! by Marissa Sebastian, Tora Shae Pruden and Izzy Newton and the S.M.A.R.T. Squad: Absolute Hero by Valerie Tripp Official Nerd Blast.

 

Praise for IZZY NEWTON AND THE S.M.A.R.T. SQUAD: ABSOLUTE HERO

This series opener highlights diverse, sympathetic characters using their smarts and their emotional intelligence to solve scientific and social challenges. Charlie has light-brown skin and speaks Spanish with her two moms, Allie presents white, Marie presents Asian, and new girl Gina Carver is black; Izzy is a winning black protagonist who steadily challenges herself and nurtures her friendships. Bowers' half- and full-page grayscale illustrations add personality to the characters. Backmatter offers further information on the characters real-life inspirations and women scientists. Wholesome entertainment for preteens, offering positivity without didacticism. ―Kirkus

Written by girl-power expert Valerie Tripp---the author behind some of your favorite American Girl stories---the Izzy Newton and the S.M.A.R.T. Squad series features five brainy friends inspired by iconic scientists---Izzy Newton, Allie Einstein, Charlie Darwin, Marie Curie, and Gina Carver---as they go through the wild time that is middle school, with stories on friendship, growing up, and of course, solving mishaps with science and the scientific method. ... It's one thing to have children's books about scientists or podcasts or stories about strong women in STEM, but it's another world entirely when your children get to feel represented by the characters they're reading about. The characters in the Izzy Newton and the S.M.A.R.T. Squad series are diverse, smart, and sure of themselves the way all middle school girls are---through their dreams and newly acquired skills they're still getting used to. ―Romper

OFFICIAL NERD BLAST FOR TWO GIRL POWER TITLES FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS

This is a Nerd Blast, you will post the promotional info we provide you with, including the giveaway. No reviews required. Please mark your Calendar.

Girls Can!
Innovate! Discover! Create! Lead nations AND rule kingdoms.
Girls can change the world!

This book puts to rest the tired adages of things girls "can't" do with powerful proof that girls not only CAN, but they DO!

Featuring profiles of over 75 remarkable women from across centuries and around the world, from math whiz Katherine Johnson to legendary leaders like Queen Elizabeth I, game changers like Serena Williams to avant-garde artists like Frida Kahlo, and so many more, you'll discover amazing, diverse women, both famous and little-known, who smashed stereotypes, overcame odds, and achieved their goals.

With interviews and encouraging advice from world-changing women of today such as media mogul Oprah Winfrey, philanthropist Melinda Gates, renowned journalist Christiane Amanpour, National Geographic explorers and planet protectors like Sylvia Earle, and more, as well as concrete tips for breaking barriers and raising your voice, this inspirational book will have you ready to follow in the footsteps of women who made-and are making-history.

You'll see that not only some Girls Can-you can!

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

When middle school mishaps happen, five friends form the S.M.A.R.T. Squad and use their collective skills and the power of science to bring order to their school. Science reigns supreme with this squad of young brainiacs. Join Izzy Newton and her friends in the first adventure of this fun new middle-grade fiction series from National Geographic Kids. A crowded new school and a crazy class schedule is enough to make Izzy feel dizzy. It may be the first day of middle school, but as long as her best friends Allie Einstein and Charlie Darwin are by her side, Izzy knows it'll all be okay. However, first-day jitters take an icy turn when Izzy's old pal Marie Curie comes back to town. 

 

Instead of a warm welcome, Marie gives her former pal the cold shoulder. The problems pile up when the school's air-conditioning goes on the fritz and the temperature suddenly drops to near freezing. The adults don't seem to have a clue how to thaw out the school. Cold temperatures and a frigid friendship? Izzy has had enough of feeling like an absolute zero. She rallies the girls to use their brainpower and science smarts to tackle the school's chilly mystery ... and hopefully to fix a certain frozen friendship along the way. Will the girls succeed and become the heroes of Atom Middle School?

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Photo Content from Authors

TORA PRUDEN is a social media manager and the director of brand growth at Equality for Her. She also works as a freelance journalist and culture critic. MARISSA SEBASTIAN is a social media coordinator and the co-creator of the social media positivity movement #Blackoutday, which aims to promote the positive representation and presence of African Americans on social media. PAIGE TOWLER writes poetry, has co-authored books, and was a children's book editor at National Geographic Kids for five years.

MARISSA: TWITTER | INSTAGRAM TORA: TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Photo Content from Authors

Part of the creative team behind the American Girl series, Valerie Tripp has written many of the American Girl books about Felicity, Josefina, Samantha, Kit, Molly, and Maryellen. She also wrote American Girl’s Welliewisher and Hopscotch Hill School books. Tripp has also written numerous levled readers, songs, stories, skills book pages, poems, and plays for educational publishers and is the editorial director of the Boys Camp series. She is a frequent speaker at schools and libraries.

Geneva Bowers is a self-taught illustrator who lives in the North Carolina mountains. Her drawing career started at age seven, when she wanted to draw horses better than her sister. Bowers works mostly digitally, using a vivid palette and simple shapes to create interesting images that reflect whimsy with a touch of realism. She has illustrated several webcomics, books, and book covers and is a 2018 Hugo award winner.

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE | GOODREADS

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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STRONGMAN: THE RISE OF FIVE DICTATORS AND THE FALL OF DEMOCRACY by Kenneth C. Davis Official Nerd Blast and Giveaway

 

Grade Level : 5 - 9

Hardcover : 272 pages

ISBN-10 : 1250205646

ISBN-13 : 978-1250205643

Publisher : Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); Illustrated Edition (October 6, 2020)

Reading level : 12 - 18 years

Language: : English 

Praise for STRONGMAN: THE RISE OF FIVE DICTATORS AND THE FALL OF DEMOCRACY

* "History’s warnings reverberate in this gripping read about five dictatorial strongmen. A pitch-perfect balance of nuanced reflection and dire warning." ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Strongman is a book that is both deeply researched and deeply felt, both an alarming warning and a galvanizing call to action, both daunting and necessary to read and discuss." ―Cynthia Levinson, author of Fault Lines in the Constitution

"A wake-up call to democracies like ours: we are not immune to despots . . . Strongman demonstrates that democracy is not permanent, unless it is collectively upheld. This book shakes that immortality narrative." ―Jessica Ellison, President of the Minnesota Council for the Social Studies

"Rarely does a history book take such an unflinching look at our common future, where the very presence of democracy is less than certain; even rarer is a history book in which the author’s moral convictions incite young readers to civic engagement; rarest of all, a history book as urgent, as impassioned, and as timely as Kenneth C. Davis’ Strongman." ―Eugene Yelchin, author of the Newbery Honor book Breaking Stalin’s Nose

"[I] . . . found myself engrossed in it from beginning to end. I could not help admiring [Davis's] ability to explain complex ideas in readable prose . . . very much a book for our time." ―Sam Wineburg, author of Why Learn History (When It's Already on Your Phone)

"At a time when dictators are rampant in such countries as North Korea, Turkey, China, Russia, and others, Davis’ deep dive into the lives of five of history’s most notorious dictators (or strongmen as he calls them)―Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and Hussein―is apposite and timely." ―Booklist

OFFICIAL NERD BLAST FOR STRONGMAN: THE RISE OF FIVE DICTATORS AND THE FALL OF DEMOCRACY 

This is a Nerd Blast, you will post the promotional info we provide you with, including the giveaway. No reviews required. Please mark your Calendar.

From the bestselling author of the Don’t Know Much About® books comes a dramatic account of the origins of democracy, the history of authoritarianism, and the reigns of five of history's deadliest dictators.

What makes a country fall to a dictator? How do authoritarian leaders—strongmen—capable of killing millions acquire their power? How are they able to defeat the ideal of democracy? And what can we do to make sure it doesn’t happen again?

By profiling five of the most notoriously ruthless dictators in history—Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Saddam Hussein—Kenneth C. Davis seeks to answer these questions, examining the forces in these strongmen’s personal lives and historical periods that shaped the leaders they’d become. Meticulously researched and complete with photographs, Strongman provides insight into the lives of five leaders who callously transformed the world and serves as an invaluable resource in an era when democracy itself seems in peril.

You can purchase Strongman: The Rise of Five Dictators and the Fall of Democracy at the following Retailers:

 

Photo Credit: Nina Subin

Kenneth C. Davis is the New York Times–bestselling author of America’s Hidden History and Don’t Know Much About® History, which gave rise to the Don’t Know Much About® series of books for adults and children. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed In the Shadow of Liberty, which was an ALA Notable Book and a finalist for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction, as well as More Deadly Than War, which was named a Washington Post Best Children's Book of the Month. A frequent guest on national television and radio and a Ted-Ed Educator, Davis lives in New York City.

      

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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A TIME FOR MONSTERS by Gareth Worthington Official Nerd Blast and Giveaway

 

Paperback: 332 pages
ISBN-10: 1645480690
ISBN-13: 978-1645480693
Publisher: Vesuvian Books (May 11, 2021)

Praise for A TIME FOR MONSTERS

"A hell-raising revenge tale for fans of Gillian Flynn, Stieg Larsson and Karen Slaughter that forces readers down a dark road with an unexpected twist." ―Monique Snyman, Bram Stoker Awards Nominee

Only a monster can do the wrong things for the right reasons. 

Do you remember the first tape or CD you ever bought? Perhaps you waited for the local station to play the top forty songs on a Sunday so you could record your favorite band. Maybe you downloaded a certain track that reminded you of your wedding day or a graduation. 

Reyna Blackburn remembers. Every single song for every horrific event in her life. She remembers what song was playing on the radio the first time he hurt her. And she remembers what was playing through her headphones the first time she killed.

You can purchase A Time For Monsters at the following Retailers:

 

Photo Content from Gareth Worthington

Gareth Worthington is a trained marine biologist and also holds a doctorate in comparative endocrinology. Currently, Gareth works full time for the Pharmaceutical industry helping to educate the World's doctors on new cancer therapies. In his spare time Gareth has a number of passions, including: martial arts - he trained in Muay Thai at the prestigious EVOLVE MMA gym in Singapore and currently trains in MMA at Phoenix Sportkampf, Switzerland; playing acoustic guitar; studying ancient history; drawing; and most of all writing fiction.

An award winning author, he hopes to one day hang up the pharma hat and write full time.

        

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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